The District’s Board of Directors approved the 2014 Strategic Financial Plan, which has several initiatives to find new sources of revenue, identify areas for cost savings, and find ways in which the District might achieve greater efficiencies. The proposed FY 17/18-21/22 fare program addresses two board-adopted goals: 1) to adjust transit fares as a means of continuing transit services with an appropriate level of passenger support; and 2) to add new revenue over the five-year period to help address the District’s projected $51 million five-year financial shortfall.

The public and the Board will be asked to consider two options for fare increases with Golden Gate Bus and two options with Golden Gate Ferry that will be effective July 1, 2017. All options contain a 50% discount from cash fares for seniors, persons with disabilities, and youth. The proposed fare increases are outlined below.

Simplification of Transfer Rules

All options would simplify the transfer rules to better reflect present-day operating conditions. Transfers would be tracked by fare zone and direction. In addition, the number of allowed transfers without paying an additional fare would be reduced from three to two and the number of hours to complete a one-way journey would be reduced from four hours to three for regional travel, and from three hours to two for local travel.

Option 1: Increase Golden Gate Transit Bus Fares by 4% Each Year. Fares would increase by approximately four percent for each of the five years, with cash fares rounded to the nearest $0.25. Local fares in San Francisco and Sonoma Counties would include a 20% Clipper discount off of the adult fare. Option 1 would change bus fares, as follows:

Year 1-5

Cash

Clipper

Zone 2 To San Francisco

$0.25

$0.20

Zone 3 To San Francisco

$0.25

$0.20

Zone 4 To San Francisco

$0.25

$0.20

Zone 5 To San Francisco

$0.50

$0.40

Zone 6 To San Francisco

$0.50

$0.40

San Francisco Local

$0.25

-$0.80/$0.20

Sonoma County Local

$0.25

-$0.80/$0.20

Contra Costa Local

$0.25

$0.20

Marin-Sonoma

$0.25/$0.50

$0.20/$0.40

Contra Costa-Marin

$0.25

$0.20

Contra Costa-Sonoma

$0.50

$0.40

Contra Costa-San Francisco

$0.50

$0.40

Option 2: Increase Golden Gate Transit Bus Fares from $0.25 to $0.50 Each Year Increments to Better Match Zone Fare Generation with Operating Costs. Option 2 would increase fares to better align fare increases with operating costs in each zone. Local cash fares within Sonoma County, Contra Costa County, and San Francisco would be reduced to $4.00 cash and $3.20 Clipper. At the end of the proposed five-year fare program, Option 2 would result in two fewer zones. Option 2 would change bus fares, as follows:

Year 1-5 (or as noted below)

Cash

Clipper

Zone 2 To San Francisco

$0.50

$0.40

Zone 3 To San Francisco

$0.25

$0.20

Zone 4 To San Francisco

$0.25

$0.20

Zone 5 To San Francisco

Years 1-2

$0.50

$0.40

Year 3

$0.25

$0.20

Years 4-5

$0.50

$0.40

Zone 6 To San Francisco

Years 1-3

No Increase

No Increase

Years 4-5

$0.50

$0.40

Zone 2 – Zone 5

$0.25

$0.20

Zone 2 – Zone 6

Years 1-4

No Increase

No Increase

Year 5

-$0.25

-$0.20

Zone 3 – Zone 5

$0.50

$0.40

Zone 3 – Zone 6

$0.25

$0.20

Zone 4 – Zone 5

Years 1-3

$0.50

$0.40

Years 4-5

$0.25

$0.20

Zone 4 – Zone 6

Years 1-2

No Increase

No Increase

Years 3-5

$0.25

$0.20

San Francisco Local

Year 1

-$1.00

-$1.80

Years 2-5

$0.25

$0.20

Sonoma County Local

Year 1

-$1.00

-$1.80

Years 2-5

$0.25

$0.20

Contra Costa Local

Year 1

-$1.50

-$1.20

Years 2-5

$0.25

$0.20

Contra Costa-Marin

$0.25

$0.20

Contra Costa-Sonoma

$0.50

$0.40

Contra Costa-San Francisco

$0.50

$0.40

Option 3: Increase Golden Gate Ferry Fares by a Straight Percentage Each Year While Matching Sausalito and Tiburon Cash Fares in Year 1 and Sausalito and Tiburon Clipper Fares by Year 3. Option 3 would increase ferry fares, as follows:

Larkspur Ferry fares increase by $0.50, each year for cash and $0.25 each year for Clipper fares.

No change to fares in years there are an increase to the Larkspur Ferry parking fee.

AT&T Special Event fares increase by $0.50 each year.

Sausalito Ferry cash fares increase by $0.25 in Year 1, and then $0.50 each year thereafter.

Sausalito Ferry Clipper fares increase by $0.25 each year.

Tiburon Ferry cash fares increase by $0.50 each year.

Tiburon Ferry Clipper fares would have no increase in Years 1-3 of the program, then increase by $0.25 in Years 4-5.

Option 4: Increase Golden Gate Ferry Fares by a Straight Percentage Each Year While Matching Sausalito and Tiburon Cash Fares in Year 1 and Sausalito and Tiburon Clipper Fares by Year 2. Option 4 would increase ferry fares, as follows:

Larkspur Ferry fares increase by $0.50, each year for both cash and Clipper fares.

No change to fares in years there are an increase to the Larkspur Ferry parking fee.

AT&T Special Event fares increase by $0.50 each year.

Sausalito Ferry cash fares increase by $0.25 in Year 1 to match Tiburon cash fare, and then $0.50 each year thereafter for both Sausalito and Tiburon Ferry.

Sausalito Ferry Clipper fares increase by $0.50 each year.

Tiburon Ferry Clipper fares would have no increase in Year 1 of the program, then $0.25 in Year 2, and then $0.50 for Years 3-5.

Reports regarding these proposals may be obtained from the Secretary of the District, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, P.O. Box 9000, Presidio Station, San Francisco, CA, 94129-0601, at www.goldengate.org/board/2017/mtgs-public-h.php, or by email at districtsecretary@goldengate.org, by phone at (415) 923-2223, by fax at 415-923-2013, or by using TDD California Relay Service at 711.

Public comments will be received at the public hearing. Public comments also may be presented in writing to the Secretary of the District at the above mailing address. Comments may also be sent by email to publichearing@goldengate.org. Written comments should be received no later than Thursday, February 23, 2017, at 4:30 p.m.

For transit information on how to get to the public hearing, either log on to www.511.org or call 511 (711 TDD). The public hearing location is accessible to everyone. To request special assistance due to a disability at this public hearing, please call the District Secretary’s Office at (415) 923-2223 three days before the hearing date.

/s/ Amorette M. Ko-Wong, Secretary of the District
Dated: February 1, 2017